Fastener-inserting tool



Feb. 12 1924.

B. M. SWEENEY FASTENER msmu'me TOOL Filed Jan. 5, 1923 55PM? ff SWff/Yfy Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

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- BERNARD 1V1. SWEENEY, OF LIVE OAK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. SULLIVAN, F YUBA CITY, CALIFORNIA.

FASTENER-INSERTING TOOL.

Application filed January 3, 1923. Serial NSo. 610,433.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD M. SWEENEY, a citizen of the. United States, residing at Live Oak, county of Sutter, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fastenerlnserting Tools, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to fastener inserting tools and particularly pertains to a tool for driving staples into tree limbs.

The usual method of supporting theladen limbs of fruit bearing trees, is to arrange wires radially from a central ring to each 'limb. These Wires are drawn taut and "secured to the limbs, preferably by staples. However, it is a" diflicult and tedious task to drive the staples into the limbs on account I o1 the yielding character of the latter. "Therefore, it is the principal object of the present; invention to obviate this disadvantage by providing a simple, enicient and inexpensive tool for driving staples into the tree limbs or other unsupported objects.

In carrying out this object, I providea frame fitted with arigidhandle bywhic h the operator may position the tool relative to a limb to bestapled. The frame is fitted i with an adjustable braceor anvil member and a staple carrying and driving plunger, between which the limb to be stapled is interposed. The adjust-able brace member serves as 'a support against which the plunger operates. The plunger may be actuated by a pivoted lever which is in driving engagement with the same.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation and section of stapling tool embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, I show astapling tool comprising a frame 10 having a handle 11. The frame adjacent the point where it joins the handle is formed, with bearing members 12 carrying a pivot pin 14. The lower end of an operating lever 15 is turnably mounted on this pin between the bearing members 12. The lower end of this lever is substantially circular and is formed with gear teeth 16 which are in constant mesh with teeth 17 formed on a reciprocable staple carrying and driving plunger 18. This plunger is mounted in a guideway 19 formed in the frame directly below the lower endof the lever 15. Due to the tootliedengageinent between the lever and the plunger, oscillating movement of the formenwill be translated 111130 reciprocating movement of the plunger.

The outer end of the plunger is recessed as at 20 for the reception of the" bent end of astaple. The end of the'staple is releasably held. in said recess by a fiat spring 21.

The frame 10 is offset. at 22so'thatitmay extend to one side of a tree limb. This oiiset portion forms aguide member 23 for a brace or anvil 24,which has aboss 25' slidably mounted on the guide member 23.:The member 2 1 is" fitted with an -extension 26 having a projection 27 indirect alignment with the longitudinal center of the plunger. It is intended that theprojection 27 "of the member 24- be positioned to abut againstone side of a tree limb to provide a relatively stationary brace against which the plunger, operating to drive a 'staple in theopposite side of the limb, maywork fi Although no mechanical-"means are provided I for 1 positively locking the member 24 on the guide 23, this is accomplished by providing the extension 26 so that the point of application of pressure is at the projection 27. As this point is not in longitudinal alignment with the guide 23 but at. a distance therefrom, pressure applied to the projection 27 will cause the extension 26 to act as a lever and cramp: the boss 25 on the guide member Therefore, when the tool is positioned on a limb with the latter interposed between the plunger and the projection 27. the member 24. will act as a relatively stationary brace for the plungerto work against. In the operation of the device, assuming that the plunger is fitted with a staple, the operator may grasp the handle 11 with one hand and correctly position the device relative to a limb whereby the latter will be interposed between the plunger and the member 23 The brace member 24 may then be adjusted to properly engage the rear side of limb. The operator, by the use of his other hand may actuate the lever to project the plunger and cause it to drive the staple into the limb. As the staple is only yieldingly held in the end of the lit).

plunger, the latter when retracted will release the driven staple.

WVhile I have described my invention for use in driving staples into tree limbs, it is obvious that it may be employed in various other similar capacities, and it is therefore understood that various changes in its construction may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A stapling tool comprising a frame formed with an offset portion to extend past an object into which a staple is to be driven, said offset portion constituting an anvil guide, an anvil adjustably mounted on said guide and adapted to engage one side of said object, a reciprocating plunger adapted to be carried by the frame and disposed at the opposite side of said object, means at the driving end of said plunger for releasably gripping a staple to be driven, an operating lever pivoted on the frame, and gear teeth connecting the lever and plunger, whereby oscillation of the lever will reciprocate the plunger and cause the same to drive a staple into said object.

2. A tool for driving fasteners into tree limbs, said tool comprising a frame having a handle, an offset portion formed on the frame and adapted to extend past a limb into which a fastener is to be driven, said ofiset portion constituting an anvil guide, an anvil slidably mounted on said guide whereby it may be adjusted thereon and engage one side of a limb into which a fastener is to be driven, a reciprocating plunger carried by the frame and adapted to work towards and away from said anvil at the opposite side of a limb engaged thereby, means at the driving end of said plunger for releasably gripping a fastener to be driven, an operating lever pivoted on the frame, and an operating connection between said lever and said plunger whereby oscillation of the lever will reciprocate the plunger and cause the same to drive a fastener.

8. A tool for driving fasteners into tree limbs, said tool comprising a frame having a handle, an offset portion formed on the frame and adapted to extend past a limb into which a fastener is to be driven, said offset portion constituting an anvil guide, an anvil slidably mounted on said guide whereby it may be adjusted thereon and engage one side of a limb into which a fastener is to be driven, a reciprocating plunger carried by the frame and adapted to work towards and away from said anvil at the opposite side of a limb engaged thereby, means at the driving end of said plunger for releasably gripping a fastener to be driven, said plunger having rack teeth formed thereon, an operating lever pivoted on the frame, gear teeth formed on the operating lever concentric with its pivoting point and in constant mesh with the teeth on the plunger whereby oscilation of the lever will reciprocate the plunger and cause the same to drive a nail or staple into an object.

BERNARD M. SWEENEY. 

